Latching mechanism



July 7, 1959 H. F. GEORGE LATCHING MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. W A 5 @w j 5 ad 7 w/ 2 r i K a fl f f a J V almwlrlwl 7 3 w wu w y 7 y ,L W w A P 7 MT, 5. a m 5 Z July 7, 1959 H. F. GEORGE LATCHING' MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In Jrz 2 01 156 -131}? eoya."

United States Patent IJATCHING MECHANISM Harry F. George, Park Ridge, Ill.

Application April 1, 1957, Serial No. 649,840

2 Claims. (Cl. 292--341.-17)

This invention relates to improved latching mechanism, including a novel striker plate, for doors and structures of a similar nature, and while especially useful for screen doors, it is to be understood that the same may be applied to any other type of door or similar structure, either wood or metal, to which it may be adapted.

The present invention is an improvement over those disclosed in my Patent No. 2,835,125, granted May 20, 1958 and US. Patents Nos. 2,764,014 granted to me September 25, 1956, 2,801,869 granted to me August 6, 1957, and 2,803,957 granted to me August 27, 1957.

The latching mechanism of the present invention is I made up of a small number of parts, and lends itself to low cost manufacturing and easy assembly as well as efficiency in operation. An important feature of the invention is the provision of a novel striker plate that, when the door is latched shut, may be easily manuallyoperated from the inside by swinging a spring biased plate to clear the latching nose to enable the door to be swung open, or the door may be opened by rotating the main shaft to swing the latching nose clear of the striker plate. Also embodied in the latching mechanism are means operable from the inside of the door for locking the main shaft against rotation, and unlocking the same, from the inside when desired. 1 1 7 Among the objects of the invention are: to provide a new and improved latching mechanism and striker plate; to provide a striker plate having a swingable plate pivoted at one edge and depressible at the opposite edge, and spring biased to normally hold the swingableplate at an angle to the door frame; to provide an improved striker plate having a swingable plate and a novel mounting for swingably supporting the same on a door frame; to provide a striker plate having a swingable plate and supportingframe, the supporting frame being adjustably mountable with relation to a door frame; to provide latching mechanism having a main shaft, an adjustable latching nose, and turning members fixed thereto, and novel means, for mounting the main shaft and turning members to a door or the like; to provide improved latching mechanism having manually operated means for locking and unlocking a door or the like from the inside of the door, when the door is in closed position; to provide latching mechanism of few parts, and which is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble, and effective in operation; to provide latching mechanism that may be factory assembled, turns left or right, may be applied to left and right hand doors of either metal or wood, that requires no mortising of the door, and is easy and quick to'apply to the door; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities, inherently possessed by my-invention, as will later more fully appear.

. My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein preferred embodiments I wish it understood that the same.

are susceptible of modification and change without departingfrorn' the spirit of the'invention.

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2 In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a door and door frame, having my invention applied thereto, and showing in full lines the door in closed and latched position, and in dotted lines the door in partially open position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward the inside of the door, and showing in full lines the door in closed and latched position, and showing in dotted lines the inside handle member swung to two positions for releasing the latching nose from the striker plate to permit the door to be opened.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, transverse section through the latching mechanism, on the line 66 of Fig. 3, and show-, ing the locking means in unlocked position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the locking means in locked position.

' Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the striker plate.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail face view of a spring washer having detents for releasably holding the housing member and shaft in locked and unlocked positions.

Fig. 10 is an edge view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, vertical section on the line 1111 of Fig. l.

As shown in the drawings, my invention comprises, in general, a main shaft 1, an inner handle 2, an outer handie or knob 3, a base plate 4, a housing member 5 for housing a biasing spring 6, a detent washer 7, a retaining washer 8, and astriker plate indicated generally at 9. The main shaft 1 is formed at its inner end with an enlarged portion 10 from which extends a portion 11 of square cross section. The square portion 11 of the main shaft extends to within the hollow interior of the housing member 5 from which it extends axially as a portion 12 with a round cross section to pass rotatably through a hole 13 in the door 14. The main shaft 1 after passing through the door, extends through a complemental open-, ing in the outer handle 3, to which it is fixed by a nut 15 threaded onto threads 16 formed on the adjacent end of the main shaft 1. The nut 15, seated in a hollowed-out cavity 0 in the knob 3, enables adjusting the length of the shaft for different door thicknesses, these parts being adjusted to the desired tightness, but permitting rotation of the main shaft. The knob 3 and that portion of the main shaft extending thereinto may be further fixed to rotate together by providing a flattened portion on the shaft,

and a complemental flattened side in the opening in the knob 3, if desired. A dress-up cap 17 is pressed into the outer end of the cavity attached to the door.

The inner end of the main shaft 1 is secured in the inner handle 2 by a press fit, thus avoiding 'the'necessity of securing this end of-the mainshaft in the handle by casting which would slow down the molding operation.

The base plate 4 is provided with a pressed-up portion forming a circular flange 18 of sufiicient depth to pro-' vide space for the retaining washer 8 which is formed with a radially extending slot 19 to enable the retaining Washer to be pushed into the circumferential groove 20 formed in the round part 12 of the main shaft at a location flush with the inner face of the door to position the main shaft and retaining washer 8 asshown in Figs. 3 and 5." The,

base plate 4,'as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, is formed with; upwardly and downwardly extending ears 21 and 22 to come --flushwith the inner face of the door, which ears; each have a suitable hole to receive .a screw or the 23 to be screwed into the door. This enables the base 0 after the complete assembly'is' plate to be secured to the inner face of the door, and hold the retaining washer 8 flush thereto without mortising or forming any recess in the door. An inwardly extending finger 24, see Figs. and 6, is struck up from the metal of the base plate 4, to stand midwayfind'on'the upper-side of the opening 25 formed in the ele'vatedpornon of the bas e plate. opening 25 is extended :ar cuatel a distance laterally in both'directions,' as will be under stood in'Figs. 6 and 7. i I i V The housing member 5 is cup shaped and is formed with a circumferentially extending flange 26'whichslidably bears against the elevated portiori'of thebase plate 4. The elevated circular wall'of the'housing nrember 5 is formed with an elongated rectangular" opening 27 of a width slightly greater than the lateral thicknessbfj the square p'oht'iondl of manna shaft, and of a length sufiiciently greater than the cross dimension'of said s 'u re portion to permit the'cup shaped housing mehiherflS to slide up and down on said square portion to cause the notch 28,fo'rmed in the bottom side idf the housing member flange 26, to pass over the projection 29 which ensue-s outwardly by pressing, 'or otherwise as desired, from'the elevated portion of the base plate 4, when the housing member is pushed downwardly 'thereover'to lockthe main shaft against rotation, aswill be understood in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; 'When the housing member is pushed upwardly, with relationto the base plate '4, the notch 28 will move away from the projection 29 andpermit the main shaft to be rotated. Fig. 7 shows the housing member iii locked position, and Figs. 4 and 5 show it"inunlocked position.

Extending inwardly from the elevated'wall 6f the Housingmeinb'er, bystamping or otherwise as desired, at the upper end of the elongated opening or slot 27, is 'afinger 30 positioned just inside of the finger 24whentheh6using member is in itsupper unlocked position, as seenin Figs. 5 and 6. En'circ'ling the main-shaft, and of substantially larger diameter than the same, is the'coil spring 6having its opposite free ends 31 and 32 bent outwardly and positioned one'on oneside of the two cars 24ai1d 30 and one 'on the other side erfiof, as will he'understood in Figs. 4,6 and'7. Due to the width of the'elo'ngated rectangular opening 27 being just enoughgreater than the square portion of the main shaft to permit the housing member to slide laterally on said square portion, it will be understood that rotation of the main shaft will cause the housing member to rotate therewith wheiiin unlocked position. It will also be seen that thefinger 24, which is fixed to the base plate 4 whichlin turn'ishfixed to'th'e door, is stationary, while thefinger 30 is rotatahle with the housing member 5. This means that whenthe main shaft is rotated clockwise as viewed in Figs. '6 and 7, the spring end 32 will be held stationary by finger24, while finger 30 will move clockwise with the housing member carrying the spring end 31 with it, thus putting the coil spring 6 under astrain that will carry thespring end 31 back against the finger 24 and return the inain shaft to its normal neutral position when ,the turning force is released from the inside handle 2 or the outside knob 3. This will cause the latching nose 33, whichis carried by the inner handle2, to normally stand in midposition with relation to the striker plate 9, when the door is closed, the main shaft then beingin neutral position. Likewise, when the main shaft is "rotated counterclock- Wise, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, the spring end 31 will be held stationary by'finger 24, while finger 3.0 will move in a counterclockwise direction and carry the spring end 32 with it, thus puttingthe coil spring 6 under a strain that will carry the spring end 32 back against the finger'24'and return the main shaft to its normal neutral position, when the tur'ningforce is released. This movement of the finger 30 to one side or the other is made possible by the arcuate slot 25 formed in the base plate ,4. In order to releasably hold the housing member 51 locked and unlocked positions there is: provided a detent washer-"7 slightly curved in a vertical direntio n and a 4 1 formed with a centrally located square hole 34 of a size to fit over thesquare portion of the main shaft. As seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the detent washer 7 is positioned be tween the outer elevated face of the housing member 5 and the adjacent end of the hub of the inner turning member 2. On each side of the square hole 34 of the detent washer, in horizontal alinement a short distance below the horizontal center line of the washer, is formed by pressing, or otherwise as desired, a semispherical projection 35 extending 'toward the'housing member. As seen in Fig. 4, there are formed by pressing or otherwise as desired, on the outer adjacent'face of the housing member 5, two pairs-of depressions 36 and 37,-"sa'id'pairs being spaced apart and so positioned that when the housing member 5 is moved upwardly on the 'main shaft into unlocking position, the pair of projections 35 on the detent washer 7 will be seated in the pair of depressions 37, see Fig. 4, and when the housing member is moved downwardly into'lockiiig assionate pair of projections 3'5 'on't he detent"washer 7 will be seated in the 'pair'pf depressions 36 6f the housing member. The curvature of thedet ent washer 7 is'such asto' resiliently urge 'the projections' 35 into the respective pairs of depressions in the housing member, and"facilitate' their remoyal'therefrom, as the housing member is moved to its positions of adjustment for locking'and unlocking the mainshaft from for rotation. This preventsthe housing member from becoming loose, and from rattling; As will he u'nde'rst ood the main shalt be in inidr neutral position when suchmdvnems of the "housing 'nier'nbe'r tol'ocking and unlockingpositions occur.

The striker illale'ttefi comprises a supporting frame 38 having asst base termed with a pair er longitudinally spaced inclined slots'39 througheach of which extends sea s res ecuring the striker pla'te to atlatihner face "of the door frame 40. The supporting frame3'8, we r d ie n as 17 41 each having an inclinedbuter edge'42, said flanges we Q reate ep t th d a he 'awei' .i e f h door, as seen'jin Figs. "l {3: In each of said'fiahgefs in"its portio n of greater depth is termed an arcuate slot 43, "which slots are similarly poSitioned'op osite each other. In the opposite side of each of saidflanges," and nearer to the door jrame, is formed a"'round -liole '44, wh .1 ar is m a n e qa 'qr i fi h rswin raw-4 p fiqn dt sh the a e 1; h s ap o ite si s e e s'e sas sui e a u r mitten e P s ne of sa s ftub a p ti n ei g i 'ial a jsm w t sa q nd o e an K l s the t b lar ranc ar u n tpi i ,sl d 'QPRQ i F said slots 43. The swing'plate 'fls isconnectedfto' tlie d ,fl n e' 1 b mea o t U shaped be as mm ba s o ap .to ih if s 't an gdfli t r being alike, only oneof them needjbe described in detail; As seen in Fig. 8, each of'these hen't rddmembers'comprises an outer end PjOlfiQIl'fifiibCfitiOffOlm a pair of'parallel legs 47 andflfi, leg 47 jinsertedthrough one ofthe round holes'M andforcefd withf'a force fit into the tubularportion atone edge of theswing plate, leg 4 8'of'which is at the sametiirie passed through the slot143 ofthe ls'arne' end flange and forced with affor'ce fit into the tubular Po t on at'the other edge of the swing plate. As will" be understood orient"thesefbent rod'rnerribers will b'ejinserted' inwardly 'as' described through'fone ofsaid end flanges, and the other insertedinwardlyes described through' the other end flange. fl'I'his' mounts theswing plate 4S for rotationabout'jlegs 4 7 at'onefllongitudinale dgefarid {or swingingmovement'jat its other longitudinal'edgejwith a portionof legs :48 ridi'n'giinfs'aid slots 43. Any other suitable meansfforfsecuring the legs 47 and @810 theLongitudinaledgesfofflthe swing plate, maybe tse va fies l "Ai p in p e 'isipe j iq e a @9 an of t swing plate 5'. .etweent lat d' i an flange 41. Eachof thes 'Pfi l jm'einhgrs 1s co led ahoht the leg 4-7 two or more times at 49, and then extended at one end in a spring arm 50 to pass underneath and up around the leg 48, and extended at the other end in an arm 51 to bear against the back plate of the supporting frame 38. These spring members are so constructed as to normally yieldably press the legs 48 upwardly to the top of the slots 43, the corresponding edge of the swing plate 45 moving with legs 48. This normally and yield ably holds the swing plate 45 at the angle shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which means that when the door is being moved to closed position, the latching nose 33, when the main shaft is in approximately neutral position, will wipe over the swing plate 45 and swing it to the depressed position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, until the latching nose clears the swing plate, which will then, under the influence of the springs 4951, swing outwardly to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, and thus hold the door closed. The door may be unlatc'hed and opened by manually pressing inwardly upon the high side of the swing plate 45 until it clears the end of the latching nose. The door may also be opened, or latched closed, by turning either the inside or outside handle to rotate the main shaft and swing the latching nose laterally of the striker plate, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As will be understood, when the inner handle 2 stands in either of the two positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the coil spring 6, upon release of the turning force upon handles 2 or 3, will return the main shaft 1 to neutral position, and the latching nose 33 to its mid position.

Should it be desired to adjust the position of the striker plate with relation to the door frame, for the purpose of preventing rattling between the latching nose and the striker plate, or providing necessary clearance therebetween, this can be readily and easily done by releasing the screws a in the inclined slots 39, moving the striker plate in the direction required for the movement desired, and then tightening the screws.

As stated above, rattling of the door may be prevented by adjusting the striker plate longitudinally through the medium of the screws a and the inclined slots 39. As seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 11, I have provided further means for preventing such rattling by adjustably connecting the latching nose 33 to the hub portion of the inner handle 2. As will be understood in Figs. 3 and 11, a circular supporting clamp 52 encircles the hub of the inner turning member 2, preferably in a slightly depressed groove 53, and having its ends bent into a pair of parallel, spaced apart ears 54 between which is clamped, by a pair of bolts 55, the latching nose 33. The contacting edges of the inner end of the latching nose and the adjacent surface of the inner turning member hub, are roughened or serrated at 56 to prevent slipping of one with relation to the other when the bolts 55. are tightened. The holes in the latching nose through which the bolts 55 pass are slotted at 57, or the holes in the parallel cars 54 may be slotted at 58, or both of these parts may be slotted, as desired, to enable adjustment of the latching nose with relation to the hub to which the latching nose is attached. From the above it is clear that rattling of the door may be prevented by loosening the bolts 55, or if desired removing them from their holes or slots, then moving the latching nose to take up any undesired play between the latching nose and the striker plate, and then replacing and tightening the bolts in the adjusted position. With sufficient clearance between the holes and the bolts, such adjustment may be efiected by merely loosening the bolts without removing them.

If desired, the knob or handle 3 may have threads formed throughout all or part of its axial bore, to interengage threads 16 of the shaft 1, so that after the knob has been screwed onto the round portion 12 of shaft 1 to the desired degree of adjustment for the particular thickness of the door, and the nut 15 tightened in place thereon, the nut will, in effect, serve as a lock nut, for insuring that the knob and the shaft will rotate together as a unit during operation.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A striker plate for latching mechanism, comprising, a supporting base adapted to be secured to a supporting member, an upstanding flange at each end of said supporting base, said flanges having similarly inclined top edges to form higher portions at one side of the supporting base than the other, the higher portion of each flange having a slot, said slots being similar and opposite to each other, the lower portions of said flanges having alined round holes, a swing plate between said flanges and having a curved tubular edge formed along each of its longitudinal edges, a pair of U-shaped rod members of round cross section each having a pair of parallel legs, one leg of one pair passing through said round hole in one of said flanges and fixed in the adjacent curved tubular edge of the swing plate, and the other leg of the last mentioned pair passing through the slot in the last mentioned one of said flanges and fixed in the adjacent curved tubular edge of the swing plate, the other one of said U-shaped rod members being similarly mounted in the other flange and similarly fixed in the respective curved tubular edges on the swing plate, whereby the swing plate will be fulcrumed along one edge and swing in and out at the other edge, and spring means between the supporting base and the swingplate for normally yieldably urging the swinging edge of the swing plate to its outermost position with relation to said slots.

2. A striker plate for door latching mechanism, comprising, a supporting frame having a base member formed at each of its ends with an upstanding flange, a swing plate between said flanges, each of the longitudinal edges of the swing plate. having bent-under portions having fixed therein projecting rods arranged two on each of said longitudinal edges, each of said flanges having a hole and a slot spaced from said hole, two of said rods being mounted in said holes for fulcrums, and the other two of said rods being mounted in said slots to swingably ride therein, and spring means for normally urging the swing plate to its outermost position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 333,022 Morton Dec. 22, 1885 348,334 Moore Aug. 31, 1886 2,029,901 Voight Feb. 4, 1936 2,287,978 De Smet June 30, 1942 2,707,121 Behnke Apr. 26, 1955 2,726,108 Falk Dec. 6, 1955 2,733,089 Grevengoed Jan. 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 745,236 France Feb. 14, 1933 

